Commentary

Law articles and updates by the attorneys of Gawthrop Greenwood.

By Sandra L. Knapp - UPDATE – September 14, 2017 – The Department of Homeland Security has extended the seven-day waiver described below to run through Friday, September 22, 2017, and expanded the number of states to which it applies. This includes refined petroleum products shipped from Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas to Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto…

The following was first published by The Maritime Executive, the largest business journal in the maritime industry, reaching 127 countries. Gawthrop Greenwood partner Sandy Knapp is a Maritime Executive author. By Sandra L. Knapp - Fast on the heels of our August 17th article on vessels with foreign-built components, the…

By Sandra L. Knapp - At the end of July 2017, the U.S. Coast Guard issued two letter rulings that are of interest to the U.S. Jones Act trade industry. The first one, issued on July 25th, confirms the U.S. Coast Guard’s current analysis process of whether a vessel built…

The following was first published by The Maritime Executive, the largest business journal in the maritime industry, reaching 127 countries. Gawthrop Greenwood partner Michael F. Merlie is a Maritime Executive author. The general public is well aware of the continuing development of autonomous vehicles. The media constantly provides stories on…

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has again established the Pennsylvania Tax Amnesty Program (the “Amnesty Program”). The period for the Amnesty Program begins on April 21, 2017 and ends on June 19, 2017 (the “Amnesty Period”). Both businesses and individuals with outstanding tax liabilities to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, whether…

The Trump administration has been a wellspring of legal issues from its inception. The resignation of President Donald Trump’s national security advisor, retired Lt. General Michael T. Flynn, brings an arcane criminal statute known as the Logan Act into national focus. Interestingly, the Logan Act is the result of the…

Consider this: Your Facebook account is likely to outlive you. Do you really want your friends and family to have access to it? What about emails, tweets and online posts? Maybe these accounts contain items of sentimental or monetary value to your family and friends. Or maybe they’re just embarrassing…

No one would have predicted that the emotional story of a music icon’s untimely death would devolve into a cautionary tale better suited for the pages of a legal journal than for those of Rolling Stone. And yet as fans await word on the cause of Prince’s demise, it is…

Companion animals are an important part of our lives. According to a recent study by the American Animal Hospital Association: 62% of households in the U.S. have companion animals. 85% of pet owners refer to themselves as their pets’ “mom” or “dad” 63% celebrate their pets’ birthdays 87% include their…

In April 2015, the Pennsylvania Governor’s Center for Local Government Services published the Eleventh Edition of its ongoing Planning Series. Issue #6 specifically discusses Zoning Hearing Boards (ZHBs) and, in addition to the basic information about how their members are appointed and their responsibilities in the position, it offers some…